With the Shemitah only a week away it’s time to make sure you and your loved ones are ready for whatever may come.
The day could pass as uneventfully as any given Tuesday and nothing could change. We are by no means boxing God into having to do something (as if we could anyway), but having lived through several hurricanes I have seen the wisdom of being prepared for disaster.
Some would say it’s crazy to talk like this because it’s too doomsday-ish, but I’d beg the question, what happens if another shaking comes and your family is not prepared? Besides, if nothing happens, you have some supplies that you may need at a later time or that you can use as needed. That being said, I want to help anyone who is not yet ready, so here is my brief recommendation list of what you should have in the event of a third shaking or any other disaster that may strike.
Disclaimer: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list. There are tons of resources online and many more emergency preparation lists. Do your own research and find what works best for you.
1. Jesus
Honestly, if you didn’t see this one coming first than you haven’t been following this blog for very long. You can store up for disaster all you want, but without Jesus it is all in vain.
In Hebrew the word Yeshua means salvation. Yeshua translates into Greek as Iesous from which we derive the English name Jesus. Without a relationship with Jesus we are lost and are on the wrong side of the coming judgement. The most important thing to do is to repent of your sins. Repentance means to stop doing what God has told us not to do and start spending time with Him. If you’re not a Christian, now is the time to confess your sins to Him (FYI, He already knows them all) and follow Him.
For those of us who are Christians, it’s time to set aside the trivial things in our lives and stand up for what we know is right and true. We must walk with Jesus. We must walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7); we must have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to His Church (Revelation 2:17).
2. A Water Supply
Moving from the spiritual to the physical, our bodies need water.
Stock up on water. I would recommend you diversify your water supply. If you have the means, buy some water jugs; get some water purification tablets, get a portable water filter, whatever you can afford. If anything happens to the water treatment plants in our cities we will need to have safe water to drink.
3. Food Stores
Most Americans have enough food on hand in their homes for about a week or so. We’ve grown so accustomed to just running out to the store that we don’t give much thought to what might happen if the price of food suddenly skyrockets or there is a problem with the food supply and grocery stores run out of food on the shelves. If you have the means, stock up on some staple items that will sustain you and your family for longer than a few weeks. Rice, beans, dry pasta, canned goods, are all good. If you have dietary restrictions, they may be hard to accommodate in the event of an emergency.
4. Medicine and First Aid
If you have a medical condition this is probably obvious to you, but to the average person who doesn’t need prescription medication, these items are easily overlooked. At a minimum, pick up a basic first aid kit from a Walgreens or CVS. Adhesive bandages, antibiotic cream/spray, nail clippers, and cotton swabs are a good start but if you have the means to upgrade your kit to include burn cream, pain relievers, anti-histamines, anti-diarrhea medicines, larger bandages, medical tape, and even a Sam Splint you will find yourself more prepared to mend your own wounds and the wounds of others in an emergency.
5. Cash On Hand
Most of us no longer carry cash, and if we do it’s not usually very much. It’s not really very safe to carry a wad of cash around with you anymore and it’s far more convenient to use a debit card for most transactions. Not to mention, if the shemitah brings a major economic event, it’s possible the value of the dollar could so decrease that our money would not be worth very much anyway. That being said, a quick look back to June 2015 when Greece shut down it’s banks in order to prevent a collapse should indicate the possibilities of what could happen. If there is a run on the banks as there was during the Great Depression, it is likely that it would be very difficult to get your money out at all. But even if none of these event occur a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, zombie invasion could leave credit/debit systems down for days leaving cash as the only payment option at stores.
6. An Emergency Plan
We’ve heard this in school since we were kids: “Always have an emergency plan.” If, Lord forbid, your house catches fire, what’s the plan for you and your family? What about if you have to evacuate your home? What’s the plan if your family has to evacuate while you’re away from home? Do you have a meeting spot? All of these (and more) are practical things to consider. Like I said, even if you don’t think a shaking is coming, it’s wise to have a plan for any crisis. Furthermore, have contingencies in place for if those plans go awry.
7. A Get Home Bag
Some people get think it’s weird to have a get home bag, but don’t overlook it. Most people mock because their hope is the security of the mundane. I have a get home bag and have never had to use it but if for any reason I had to hike back home to my family, I am prepared with food, plenty of water, supplies for navigation, making shelter, making fire and staying warm. It also doubles as my day bag for short hikes. If I want to take the kids hiking, we don’t have to pack everything up before hand, it’s all ready to go.
The Point
So why give a list of stuff we should all have? Because life brings the unexpected at the most random times. We have been blessed to be given signs of what may be coming, but even if we’re wrong about the shemitah, you never know when a crisis will hit and I want you all to be ready.
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” – Proverbs 22:3
Ancient Abandon 